Pocket scoring device



J y 15.," 5 w. z. WILLINGHAM, JR 3,455,273.

POCKET SCORING DEVICE Filed July 17, 1967 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I. v //0 I6 20 I6 /4 /v'\ '6af} B L Q U; STRIKES INNING VISITORS 52 50 60 HITS D U) 0-66 46 '8 D F 4a 22 HOME HITS aaoos' NO TWQ W/LL/AM E W/LL/NGHA M, JR.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY y '15, 1959 w. E. WILLINGHAM, JR 3,455,273

POCKET SCORING DEVICE Filed July 17, .1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 in 6 WILL/AME W/LLl/VGHAM, JR ||||||||||mm||||Illllliss iiallll||||||||||||||||ll|l|||||| ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,455,273 POCKET SCORING DEVICE William E. Willingham, Jr., Frederick Ave. and Thistle Road, Baltimore, Md. 21228 Filed July 17, 1967, Ser. No. 653,987 Int. Cl. G091? 9/00 US. Cl. 116-133 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A registering device is here described which is particularly suited for high volume production from plastic. Independently rotatable indicia wheels are retained between plates in a sandwich assembly and viewed through windows on both sides. Peripheral notches are provided on the wheels, both for thumb friction and for detent spring engagement. The detent springs are U-shaped and each is shared by two Wheels. Slotted raised bosses 0n the base plate retain the detent springs and serve as spacers and ends. A pair of slide plates translate together on opposite sides of the assembly and have three positions where window apertures uncover indicia on the sandwich plate surfaces. Serving both as pocket clips and independentlyacting detents for the slide plates are two spring clips, one on each side of the assembly. The indicia shown is for the games of baseball and football but any other sports or activities may be registered with suitable indicia.

This invention relates generally to indicators, and more particularly it pertains to a pocket device for temporarily registering information especially that of numerical type as for game scores. Pocket type wheel score cards have in the past been of thin celluloid sheet construction and subject to almost certain breakage in a pocket. The finger actuated wheels, too, were sources of trouble with reliance only on friction to retain a setting and lacking adequate finger purchase.

It is a primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide in a scoring device the application of interacting and combined utility features to make possible a more rugged arrangement of cast plastic for low cost and improved performance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a base plate for sandwich structure complete with raised bosses which retain detent springs securely and function as spacers and end walls for functionally retaining indicia wheels.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of windowed slide plates translatable from one side of the assembly to the other and bi-functional clips for detenting the same in three locations.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are respectively top, side, and bottom views of a pocket scoring device incorporating features of this invention;

FIG. 4 depicts the interior of the pocket scoring device viewed in the direction of the arrows of line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the details of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral indicates generally a pocket scoring device. This scoring device 10 consists of a molded plastic lower, or base plate 12, and an upper, or cover plate 14. Sandwiched between these plates 12 and 14 a plurality of scoring wheels 16 are retained on stub shafts 24 in journal holes 26 along one longitudinal "ice edge with a portion of their periphery projecting. Similarly, another and equal plurality of scoring wheels 18 are mounted adjacent the opposite edge.

Each wheel 16 and 18 is provided with numerals 22 on both faces arranged in a circle. Notches 20 are provided in the periphery of each wheel 16 and 18 equal in quantity to the numerals 22 thereon as best shown in FIG. 4.

Raised portions somewhat higher than the thickness of the wheels 16 and 18 in the form of bosses 34 and end bosses 38 are integral with the base plate 12 along its 1ongitudinal center line. Slots 36 are formed in the bosses 34 and similar slots 40 in the end bosses 38 to frictionally retain U-shaped springs 30. Each spring 30 has a detent 32 at opposite ends. One detent 32 of one spring 30 thus engages the notches 20 of a scoring wheel 16, the other engaging the notches 20 of a scoring wheel 18 positioned oppositely. The end bosses 38 merge into endwalls 28 which extend the entire width of the base plate 12 and close the ends of the assembly as best shown in FIG. 2.

Both plates 12 and 14 have windows 44 positioned so the numerals 22 on wheels 16 and 18 may be observed, one at a time, as advanced detent-by-detent notches 20.

The outer faces of the plates 12 and 14 have indicia 46 to identify these windows 44. Other indicia 52 and 58 are located on plates 14 and 12, respectively. Here, respective slide plates 48 and 54 are arranged to translate thereover together with tie-spacers 62. These tie-spacers 62 as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 extend serially through parallel slots 60 in the plates 14 and 12 and are hot peened at their ends to retain them to the slide plates 48 and 54.

Windows 50 and 56 in the plates 48 and 54 allow three different insignia 52 (or 58) each to be sequentially viewed corresponding to right hand, center and left hand translations. These positions are assured by a pair of combination pocket and detent clips 64, one secured by rivets 66 on plate 12, the other similarly on plate 14 but not in opposition.

Thus, one clip 64 captures the slide plate assembly upon a left translation, whereas an opposite hand translation results in capture by the other clip 64. Being on opposite sides, one of the clips 64 is always handy for pocket engagement.

The bosses 44 and the end walls 28 have upstanding pins 68. These pins 68 extend through matching holes in the cover plate 14 and are hot-peened on their ends to secure the entire assembly of the pocket scoring device together in a rigid manner.

If desired, instead of using plastic for the construction of the pocket scoring device 10, light weight metal can be utilized.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pocket scoring device, comprising, a pair of parallel and juxtapositioned spaced plates, a plurality of scoring wheels positioned between said plates and mounted for rotation, each said scoring wheel having a portion of its periphery projecting outwardly past the edges of said plates, each said scoring wheel being provided with indicia on both faces thereof arranged in a predetermined manner, each said scoring wheel having notches provided in its periphery equal in quantity to the indicia on said wheel, and spring means for selectively engaging the notches in each said scoring wheel to hold said wheel in a predetermined position, said plates having windows positioned therein so that said indicia on said scoring wheels can be observed, the improvement comprising: slide plates 3 positioned on the outer faces of said pair of spaced plates, said slide plates having spaced Windows provided therein for sequentially viewing indicia on the outer faces of said pair of parallel spaced plates, and means for retaining said slide plates in predetermined positions on said pair of spaced plates.

2. In a scoring device as recited in claim 1, the said slide plates affixedly assembled to each other through parallel slide slots in said spaced plates, and said means for retaining comprising a clip mounted on one of said spaced plates and adapted to detain one end of the said slide plate assembly and a second clip mounted on the other of said spaced plates and adapted to detain the opposite end of the said slide plate assembly.

3. In a scoring device as recited in claim 2, each said clip having one end thereof afiixed to the exterior of a said spaced plate and having the opposite end thereof outwardly bent and sprung against the spaced plate, whereby when the said slide plate assembly is positioned away from a clip, the said clip is adapted for use as a pocket engagement clip for storing said device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,985,652 12/1934 Campbell 235-114 2,874,672 2/1959 Hamrn 116-133 2,996,247 8/1961 Shell 235-114 3,017,087 1/1962 Bodeen 116-133 XR 3,268,168 8/1966 Staller et al. 235-114 3,297,249 1/1967 Light 235-114 LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

